Is this a bad time to tell you guys I found another two dr650 riders to join? See you guys 0845hrs at the start point.

Zack - Maybe this time the DRs will outnumber the KiLRs. Hope you don't cut it close and show as we pull out. Since you know the route, is it OK if you take point with the DRs. (Stiffler, luckett, etc.) Are Terry and Sean showing with KiLRs to guide Cabrito? Bill suggested we move from Sunday to Saturday.. so he better show!

Too bad Sid can't make it, but Leo can navigate for the KTM 950/990 Adventures; Dean won't be there, but a couple of riders are on plated dirt bikes...as usual. The Sac guys plan to link up at CP1 and know this area well, so no worries there.

I'm so tempted to take the DR (the smaller 33mm flatslide carb arrived today)... but nah ... it would be a cop out; riding the Tiger! Either way ridings (or kickstarting) is a (PT) bitch!

Is there video of the tougher non advanced bike recommended stuff? Wondering if I should take the tiger through the gnarly stuff.

Henry,

Each checkpoint leg is designed to be more difficult than the previous leg. You should be fine from Start through CP2. Watch first 2 videos on OP. Ride to Lower Camp (video #3: 7 minutes offroad) and you can decide if you prefer to return to the slab. It gets tougher but still ADVenture big bike friendly from CP3 to CP4.

The hardcore dirt guys usually break off to find single track after CP2.

I'm posting this in hopes of learning something. I've got a little bit of dirt road experience, but consider myself a newbie to it.

This happened yesterday (3/10/12) eastbound on (unmaintained) Rayhouse Road / County Road 40, roughly 20 miles East of Lower Lake, CA, about 3 miles West of Hwy 16 from Cache Creek and 10 miles into the dirt ride from Morgan Valley Road. Most of this video is just to show the road conditions and my riding style. The incident itself is at 13:43 so you may wanna skip to that. I killed the audio for a bit at that point, due to unseemly language.

I think what happened is I hit a rock that upset the front wheel. Coulda been a lot worse if it happened in a different spot. Seems kinda bizarre to me 'cause the rocks are everywhere and I'd just survived 10 miles of them. How can I avoid this in the future? Might a fork brace have helped?

I'm trying not to let the bars upset the bike when they deflect off the rocks/ruts/loose surface: I keep my elbows up above the bar ends, and let the front bounce around and the handlebars move side to side. Watch video: http://youtu.be/BhCuN9rNyaE

Grip the tank with your knees instead of holding on the handlebars. Point your toes inward, and keep the balls of your feet and not the arch on the pegs. You take your foot off the peg to shift/brake. Watch video: http://youtu.be/K7LJdCfLOqg Use your legs to stand up/shift weight and not your arms. I only hold my bars/throttle lightly with my thumb and index finger except when unweighting my front for an obstacle. Use your knees against the tank and not your arms to keep from pitching forward when decelerating or going downhill.

Weight the outside peg on the turns to maximize the tire contact patch by keeping the bike upright. Watch video http://youtu.be/vgkQmiTs-RM and note bike attitude and position of rear end on the bike. Helps to drop your tire pressure to mid or low 20's on a heavier ADV bike. Lifting your foot off the inside peg helps... I'm not too keen about sticking my leg out when turning a 600 lbs. bike in the dirt..Watch video: http://youtu.be/Z1D5_kDDNgM

Avoid target fixation (don't spend all of your $10 on the ruts and rocks): Keep your head up and look to where you wan't to go, especially when turning.

A couple of us are departing from GGB north vista parking area at 8am and making our way through sonoma/napa to 128. If anyone wants to join us, PM me so we know to expect you.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by louemc

If You don't know diddly about how it is safer to have your front wheel up at least a tiny distance off the pavement, while turning, so there is no risk of losing traction, there, where there is no traction to lose, And you are turning with the rear wheel...Then by all means, go slow enough so Your risky behavour, doesn't get overwhelmed...

Good day to ride. Nice to meet you Doc. Have to get you up here in the foot hills show you some of out trails.......snow pending of course.
Looks like every one got out fine with out to many problems.

Kurt J

Kurt, I'll take you up on the invite. I do ride snow, so anytime is no problem... but probably ride the plated dirt bike to keep up with you guys... the Tiger is a beast to handle off-road! Please post pics of your Cagiva/Ducati Elefant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimboFosho

It was an awesome ride today! I was glad even a straggler could catch up. My pics and videos are being developed too

Bike started with 120 miles, end of day the Tiger had over 410.
Thanks for the help Jim.
Had a blast! + some

btw, nice dirtbike Banjoboy!

Kyle - Interesting strategy to break in an new ADV bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Banjoboy

Thanx Drew, that wuz a blast! (I'm gonna be sore tomorrow.) I should have sum good pics; gotta develop the film though.

Thanks to Banjoboy, energizer26, JustPaul (really just Jill), and LittleWan for taking the time to take and post pics; and to all the posers that posed on their rides. Looking for the videos of 'proof of life' or 'near death' a la Energizer26.

I wonder why the beemers don't come back? It's a nice ride. And it's not like the VStrom is more capable than a GS in the dirt... I'm surprised it's as popular with the thumpers as it is since there's a fair amount of pavement. Dirt freaks get all whiney when they have to touch any pavement.